Vertex--A love-hate rant
09-23-2002, 11:22 PM
#1
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Vertex--A love-hate rant
I love Vertex's great prices, and spiffy new catalog. Problem is, they are now charging a CREDIT CARD fee?? WTF? $3 added to my last purchase.
How ELSE are you supposed to pay a mail-order catalog?? Is my $3 helping to finance the cost of the new catalogs??
Blaaaa!
How ELSE are you supposed to pay a mail-order catalog?? Is my $3 helping to finance the cost of the new catalogs??
Blaaaa!
09-23-2002, 11:30 PM
#2
Three Wheelin'
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Keep buyin' enough to keep getting their catalog; but do most of your business with Paragon & Zim's and get good quality & good service.
Shopping for the cheapest price isn't usually worth the hassles. And you'll probably find the credit card charge mentioned in their ads & catalog, maybe in fine print.
Jim, just too dam' old for the hassles anymore...
Shopping for the cheapest price isn't usually worth the hassles. And you'll probably find the credit card charge mentioned in their ads & catalog, maybe in fine print.
Jim, just too dam' old for the hassles anymore...
09-24-2002, 12:05 AM
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[quote] How ELSE are you supposed to pay a mail-order catalog?? Is my $3 helping to finance the cost of the new catalogs?? <hr></blockquote>
Well, the other way to pay is to send them a check. But, they will wait until the check clears before sending the product you ordered, so that means a few extra days before shipment.
Merchants pay a fee to the credit card companies for the "privelege" of using their services. Most just pass that fee on to consumers in their pricing. Vertex offers the option of saving a few bucks if you don't want/need the convenience of a quick credit card sale. It may be a bit of a gimmick to be able to claim "lowest prices", but it has the advantage of giving you a choice.
BTW, I agree that their new catalog really is spiffy! It does look like they sunk some bucks into its production. <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />
Well, the other way to pay is to send them a check. But, they will wait until the check clears before sending the product you ordered, so that means a few extra days before shipment.
Merchants pay a fee to the credit card companies for the "privelege" of using their services. Most just pass that fee on to consumers in their pricing. Vertex offers the option of saving a few bucks if you don't want/need the convenience of a quick credit card sale. It may be a bit of a gimmick to be able to claim "lowest prices", but it has the advantage of giving you a choice.
BTW, I agree that their new catalog really is spiffy! It does look like they sunk some bucks into its production. <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />
09-24-2002, 01:03 AM
#4
Racer
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I've bought alot of stuff from vertex and never at the advertised price, it's ALWAYS LESS!!! Quit the <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> and enjoy the awesome prices!
09-24-2002, 02:27 AM
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Yeah, low prices but crap parts. Had to return two clutch kits due to warped pressure plates. Also, the water pump problem I'm having now is with a pump purchased from Vertex. Blow me Vertex! <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
09-24-2002, 08:29 AM
#6
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I just got a throttle cam from Vertex, it came used and dirty + they charged the $3 which was not indicated on their web page but showed on the invoice. I called them and they said they would discount the cam as they didn't have anymore and would refund the $3, still waiting for both
09-24-2002, 08:57 AM
#7
Three Wheelin'
The general consensus is to NEVER buy anything rebuilt from Vertex. I got "played" on a rebuilt air flow meter from them a few years ago. Lasted about 10K miles before it started causing stumbling during acceleration & it never really ran 100% from the beginning. So I bought a new AFM and it made a HUGE difference. There CC fee is pathetic.
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09-24-2002, 10:18 AM
#8
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I've been a Vertex customer since 1994. Up until my last order (2 months ago), the Credit Card Fee was 3%, not $3.
I'm not exactly sure as to the legality of this practice, since AFAIK no other supplier does it. You can bypass it by taking the C.O.D. option and make UPS earn its rates, for a change.
I did this for a $500 hybrid clutch kit from them (Centerforce pressure plate, SACHS disk and T/O bearing) back in 97 which is currently the clutch setup in my 83.
I think they come up short in quality on rebuilt parts because they try to low-ball everyone else's pricing. They WILL make it up to you in customer service, though, if you give them the chance: (i.e. calling and complaining).
I'm not exactly sure as to the legality of this practice, since AFAIK no other supplier does it. You can bypass it by taking the C.O.D. option and make UPS earn its rates, for a change.
I did this for a $500 hybrid clutch kit from them (Centerforce pressure plate, SACHS disk and T/O bearing) back in 97 which is currently the clutch setup in my 83.
I think they come up short in quality on rebuilt parts because they try to low-ball everyone else's pricing. They WILL make it up to you in customer service, though, if you give them the chance: (i.e. calling and complaining).
09-24-2002, 01:43 PM
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Regarding credit card fees, I've seen gas stations post lower prices for cash payment, so I don't think there's anything illegal about that. At least they give you the option to save some bucks if you can wait a week for your check to arrive and then clear.
Like a lot of places, their promised shipping date and actual date is sometimes far apart. They are pretty helpful when you call, it just makes you wonder why all these automated inventory systems can't generate phone calls or e-mails to you when something doesn't ship when promised. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
Like a lot of places, their promised shipping date and actual date is sometimes far apart. They are pretty helpful when you call, it just makes you wonder why all these automated inventory systems can't generate phone calls or e-mails to you when something doesn't ship when promised. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
09-24-2002, 02:06 PM
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I have done a lot of business with Vertex over the last 6 months, in rebuilding my suspension and brakes. I have nothing but good things to say about their prices. I have always been given significant discounts off of their catalog prices. I haven't bought anything rebuilt from them, but everything new has been awesome.
As far as the $3 to the credit card, I have seen quite a few places who have different prices for cash v. cc. There is a music store in town that charges $2 more for a CD!!! Which can be something like 15% I don't mind paying an extra $3 on a $500 order when I am saving significant money. Just my 2 cents.
As far as the $3 to the credit card, I have seen quite a few places who have different prices for cash v. cc. There is a music store in town that charges $2 more for a CD!!! Which can be something like 15% I don't mind paying an extra $3 on a $500 order when I am saving significant money. Just my 2 cents.
09-24-2002, 03:09 PM
#12
Nordschleife Master
All merchants pay a fee for clearing credit card charges. The fee can vary quite a bit depending on the issuer and what sort of deal the merchant has been able to get. Vertex is just unbundling this charge as a pricing scheme.
In many places I've been to the additional charge for a credit card payment is quite common. As I was checking out of a resort on an island off Honduras, they wanted 3% extra for a VISA card payment. I said WOW!
Clerk: Do you have a personal check with you?
Me: Yes.
Clerk: Just pay your bill with that and avoid the fee.
Me: OK. <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />
Their only contact with the outside world was by radio or the occasional boat or small aircraft. They don't know me from Jack and they are taking a personal check for over a thousand bucks?
In many places I've been to the additional charge for a credit card payment is quite common. As I was checking out of a resort on an island off Honduras, they wanted 3% extra for a VISA card payment. I said WOW!
Clerk: Do you have a personal check with you?
Me: Yes.
Clerk: Just pay your bill with that and avoid the fee.
Me: OK. <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />
Their only contact with the outside world was by radio or the occasional boat or small aircraft. They don't know me from Jack and they are taking a personal check for over a thousand bucks?
09-24-2002, 06:26 PM
#13
Three Wheelin'
Most of the complaints I've seen about Vertex stem from people buying their rebuilt parts. Easy solution - don't buy their rebuilt parts.
Everything else, you're going to be buying the same thing from other distributors so you may as well go with Vertex for the cheaper price. BTW, europroducts.net is actually beating Vertex's prices on several items now. I've never dealt with them though - will soon.
I've never had any problems with new parts from Vertex aside for once, when they sent me an old-style waterpump after I'd ordered a Turbo one.
Micah
Everything else, you're going to be buying the same thing from other distributors so you may as well go with Vertex for the cheaper price. BTW, europroducts.net is actually beating Vertex's prices on several items now. I've never dealt with them though - will soon.
I've never had any problems with new parts from Vertex aside for once, when they sent me an old-style waterpump after I'd ordered a Turbo one.
Micah
09-24-2002, 06:46 PM
#14
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When I signed up for my merchant account, I was told it is illegal to charge an additional amount to use a credit card, and by doing so would black list you as a merchant. The rules may have changed, but that's what I was told about 2 years ago.
By the way, <a href="http://www.Europacwest.com" target="_blank">http://www.Europacwest.com</a> has as good or better prices then Vertex. They sponsored P-Caronline.com and I needed something when I thought my injectors were bad and called them up (even though they didn't have it listed online). Brian was very friendly and helpful and actually beat Vertex's price. Too bad I didn't need injectors after all.
-Matt
By the way, <a href="http://www.Europacwest.com" target="_blank">http://www.Europacwest.com</a> has as good or better prices then Vertex. They sponsored P-Caronline.com and I needed something when I thought my injectors were bad and called them up (even though they didn't have it listed online). Brian was very friendly and helpful and actually beat Vertex's price. Too bad I didn't need injectors after all.
-Matt
09-24-2002, 07:24 PM
#15
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Micah,
Google search gave me <a href="http://www.Eurowebparts.com" target="_blank">www.Eurowebparts.com</a> for Europroducts.net. As for the fees its a fact of life. ATM, internet access, tipping the Starbucks host, sky caps at airports, your paperboy, checking account fees, bank deposit fees, my head is spinning .... can't stop.......
John_AZ
Rennlist member 020907-3052
Google search gave me <a href="http://www.Eurowebparts.com" target="_blank">www.Eurowebparts.com</a> for Europroducts.net. As for the fees its a fact of life. ATM, internet access, tipping the Starbucks host, sky caps at airports, your paperboy, checking account fees, bank deposit fees, my head is spinning .... can't stop.......
John_AZ
Rennlist member 020907-3052
